Summary

Live Reporting

Linfield lift league cup

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

So, Linfield have their hands on the League Cup for the first time since 2008.

it was not in truth a game that will live forever in the memory but that is often the case in cup finals and Linfield, with their backs to the wall for the majority of the second half, stood firm and kept out Ballymena who couldn't take the final step and put it past Gareth Deane in the Blues net.

It's back to league action next week for these teams and they are up against... each other.

Healy praises Linfield characters

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Quote Message: I am so proud of the players. We weren't at our best today, the cup final sometimes dictates the performance and I think we were a little bit edgy but fair play to the players. It's another clean sheet against a team who bombarded us with balls into the box, they will probably feel slightly hard done by but we had strong characters who put their bodies on the line when needed. from David Healy Linfield manager

I am so proud of the players. We weren't at our best today, the cup final sometimes dictates the performance and I think we were a little bit edgy but fair play to the players. It's another clean sheet against a team who bombarded us with balls into the box, they will probably feel slightly hard done by but we had strong characters who put their bodies on the line when needed.

Jeffrey proud of team despite defeat

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Quote Message: I think it was pretty obvious in the second half who was in the ascendancy and who was the dominant force. As disappointed as I am with not winning, what has been eradicated was the disappointment of our performance from last season. I thought we did tremendously well and sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve. The adulation and ovation we got from our own supporters tells its own story. from David Jeffrey Ballymena United manager

I think it was pretty obvious in the second half who was in the ascendancy and who was the dominant force. As disappointed as I am with not winning, what has been eradicated was the disappointment of our performance from last season. I thought we did tremendously well and sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve. The adulation and ovation we got from our own supporters tells its own story.

Blues didn't bring their A-game but did enough - Mulgrew

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Quote Message: Ballymena made us fight all the way, we expected that and that's why they're so close to us in the league. they might feel like they possibly should have got something out of the game and I can't really argue with that. We didn't really bring our A-game today and Ballymena put us under pressure, but that's why we have the best defensive record in the league. from Jamie Mulgrew Linfield captain

Ballymena made us fight all the way, we expected that and that's why they're so close to us in the league. they might feel like they possibly should have got something out of the game and I can't really argue with that. We didn't really bring our A-game today and Ballymena put us under pressure, but that's why we have the best defensive record in the league.

Waterworth happy with response

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Quote Message: It wasn't pretty and Ballymena were probably the better side, in fact they were the better side but we went 1-0 up and we showed great determination. I'm delighted to get on the scoresheet because I've endured a rough few months of not scoring and maybe have had a little bit of criticism. I'm going to savour the moment and enjoy the cup. from Andy Waterworth Linfield striker

It wasn't pretty and Ballymena were probably the better side, in fact they were the better side but we went 1-0 up and we showed great determination. I'm delighted to get on the scoresheet because I've endured a rough few months of not scoring and maybe have had a little bit of criticism. I'm going to savour the moment and enjoy the cup.

Not a classic but it will do for the Blues - Beckett

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Quote Message: It maybe wasn't the most classic of cup finals but it certainly was full of excitement. Not very often you say that perhaps the better team lost but I think Ballymena had the better of it. They gave their all but Linfield are Linfield for a reason, they can grind out these results. from Liam Beckett Sportsound summariser

It maybe wasn't the most classic of cup finals but it certainly was full of excitement. Not very often you say that perhaps the better team lost but I think Ballymena had the better of it. They gave their all but Linfield are Linfield for a reason, they can grind out these results.

Nearly some Kane magic

Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield

Little bit of invention from Tony Kane who collects the ball from a corner and, with a crowded box, opts for the aerial route hoping to catch Gareth Deane out with an audacious chip. He just gets too much lift on it and the effort ends up on the roof of the net

'It's strange tactics from Linfield'

Ballymena Utd 0-1 Linfield

Allan Jenkins

Radio Ulster pundit

Quote Message: Ballymena are well on top and it's strange tactics from Linfield, who are at sixes and sevens at the minute. It's all Ballymena and they just have to keep doing what they are doing the goal will come - hopefully!

Ballymena are well on top and it's strange tactics from Linfield, who are at sixes and sevens at the minute. It's all Ballymena and they just have to keep doing what they are doing the goal will come - hopefully!

Linfield all over the place - Beckett

Ballymena Utd 0-1 Linfield

Liam Beckett

Sportsound summariser

Quote Message: Linfield just can't get it together - they are all over the place. Everything is being hoofed from defence and it's coming straight back at them. Ballymena are not far from scoring a goal.

Linfield just can't get it together - they are all over the place. Everything is being hoofed from defence and it's coming straight back at them. Ballymena are not far from scoring a goal.